Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Jan-2021 i Woman's Weekly

January dreaming As a child I came to love January because it’s just before my birthday, so heralded new excitements. But for most people it’s quite the opposite, they find January the most depressing month of all, and what’s more, next week is supposedly the most dismal in January. This year, for most of us, that feeling has been made 10 times worse by COVID-19. But January is also a new beginning, so with an escape from this pandemic now finally on the horizon, let’s fight that ennui with dreams and plans for better things just around the corner! I might start by imagining a holiday to the Italian Lakes (see page 38).…

Don’t be anxious about it. Try alternate nostril breathing. ‘This technique helps refocus and re-energise your mind so you can make big decisions with clarity,’ says Rebecca. 1 Sit comfortably on a chair or cross-legged on the floor. 2 Hold out your right hand and press the tips of your pointer and middle fingers into your palm, leaving your ring finger, pinky finger and thumb extended. 3 Press your extended thumb on the outside of one nostril. Inhale deeply through your open nostril. 4 At the peak of your inhalation, release your thumb, press your ring finger on the outside of your other nostril, and exhale. 5 Continue this pattern for two minutes before switching sides for another two minutes. *Find meditation podcasts at breathingtree.co.uk…

NHS Charities Together gives over £1m every day for the NHS so that people can stay well for longer and get better faster. ‘The outpouring of love has been amazing’ Kate Dennant, 36, is a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service. She lives in Norwich with her partner, Dan, 35. After training as a paramedic for three years, I qualified in December 2019. It’s a busy, stressful job and, no matter how much experience you have, there are always times when it feels overwhelming. The NHS COVID-19 Appeal, which began back in March, has raised over £140m. Before the UK went into lockdown the first time around, I don’t think I quite understood the gravity of what was happening. We always use gloves, but in March 2020, when…

1 Breathe In a comfortable seated position, breathe in while counting to five, then exhale while counting to six. Repeat for three to five minutes, breathing gently and naturally, to calm your mind and body. 2 Make a self-care calendar Choose one small, compassionate act for every day of the month. This could include taking a hot bath, dancing round your kitchen or complimenting a stranger. 3 Find a creative outlet Try journaling about your day, drawing something around your house or singing along to your favourite songs, karaoke-style. 4 Start a compliments file Rather than focusing on thoughts that get you down, begin to document all the kind things people say to you. Read it whenever you doubt yourself. 5 Go and explore outdoors Fresh air and light exercise…

Two new international studies have found that eggs can help overweight and obese adults lose weight. The findings from America and Australia also support the latest UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey data, which shows that women who eat eggs tend to be slimmer and have a better-quality diet. ‘These studies support previous research showing that eggs’ high protein content, low energy density and satiating effect can help with weight loss,’ says nutritionist Dr Juliet Gray.…

Clostridioides difficile (C. Diff) infection can be difficult to manage, but a study of more than 250 American patients receiving faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) shows the procedure has a high success rate. One month after treatment, diarrhoea had resolved in 90% of patients, over six months, and 4% experienced recurrence. FMT, or ‘stool transplant’, is the process of transferring faecal bacteria from a healthy individual into another individual to normalise their bowel microbiota.…

He’s moved on! Q My husband and I divorced a year ago and recently I’ve been looking for another relationship. Somewhat reluctantly, I went online – and my husband came up as an ideal choice! I definitely don’t want to go back to him, but I really minded seeing him out there looking for someone else. I know it isn’t logical, but I felt so rejected. Janice, Leeds AYou’re right, it isn’t logical! I understand you might be sad that it didn’t work out between you, but it sounds like you’re both looking to move on. Would you want him to be sitting tearfully at home, or prefer he, too, made a new life? I expect the latter. You’re clearly still looking for some of the characteristics your husband has,…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr This is a wonderful time for decluttering and making space for new things to come into your world. Order is a key to inner peace. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Profits could be coming your way. If you’re trying to buy or sell anything, negotiations are in your favour. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun See if you can take a risk every day this week. Push yourself to extend your usual habits and do something new and exciting. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul This is a great time for organising and planning. What are your dreams and goals? Commit to taking at least one baby step. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Even wearing a mask, you can emit positive energy.…

Since opening in 1871, this impressive Grade I-listed London landmark has hosted a dazzling range of events – from concerts by the world’s top orchestras and composers to operas, ballets, circus shows, political debates and sport. We take a look at the history and memorable moments of one of our most precious institutions, and how it is looking forward to the next 150 years. Price Albert’s vision Following the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, envisaged a more permanent cultural centre for the nation. Fondly dubbed ‘Albertropolis’, it was to include museums, exhibition spaces and a grand ‘Central Hall’. However, Albert died in 1861, and it was left to others to complete his vision. The Hall, with its stunning dome and elliptical design, was…

This week’s columnist: Arthur Smith “Every November I like to remember my father declaring, ‘Winter drawers on,’ even though the joke is now well past its sell-by date. (Note to younger readers – ‘drawers’ used to be another word for knickers.) My dad had spent a gruelling six months in North Africa during the war preparing for the battle of El-Alamein and he never forgot the sweltering fly-strewn heat of the desert and the lice that came with it, which is why, even back home in Britain, every year he welcomed the onset of colder days. I seem to have inherited his preference and now, as I sit here in my sumptuous slippers and jumper, I’m pleased that summer is just a distant memory. Here are my five reasons why.…

My go-to remedy I’m a huge fan of mindful breath – I do this when I’m feeling tired or overwhelmed, or even just to prepare me for a good night’s sleep. I breathe out as far as I can, then let the air fall back into my belly (out for six counts, in for four). Any variation on this works well, but it’s just a lovely way to be present in the moment and think grateful thoughts. My favourite meal I’m loving a tasty, comforting curry at the moment. The spices and textures take me back to when I lived in India as a young child. I’ve included a recipe for this, as well as tips on how to adapt your favourite base ingredients to make other really easy, comforting…

The sensation of palpitations varies – your heart may feel like it’s pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for just a few seconds or even minutes. Palpitations may be felt in your chest, throat or neck. Alternatively, some people describe the sensation of an extra or missed beat. These are known as ectopic beats – they are very common and are usually nothing to worry about, unless very frequent. Although palpitations may seem alarming, in most cases they’re harmless and are not a sign of a serious problem. There are many possible triggers but the most common causes are lifestyle factors, such as strenuous exercise, tiredness and lack of sleep, or emotional or psychological triggers such as anxiety, excitement or fear. ‘Panic attacks’ are an overwhelming sense of anxiety or…

GET SOME AIR Most causes are transient. Open a window for fresh air, sit down, loosen your clothes. Distract yourself with music or reading, or watch a film. DRINK Take sips of a cold drink – some people find fizzy water best. Don’t gulp large amounts, as this will stretch the stomach and make it worse. TRY GINGER… …or mint – they are traditional treatments. Try small amounts of foods containing ginger, such as ginger biscuits, drink peppermint tea or suck on a peppermint. GO SMALL Eat smaller meals, avoiding strong-smelling, hot, greasy foods. Drink small amounts of fluid as you eat, and don’t lie down soon after eating.…

IT’S SNOWDROP SEASON! Snowdrops in leaf are available now. Choose a semi-shaded spot for them and use 65-75 bulbs per square metre. Add organic matter to the soil – snowdrops like well-drained, humus-rich soil. Scatter single bulbs on the ground and plant where they lie, to the same depth they grew before – where the stalk changes from white to green. GET PLANNING A useful armchair job is to draw up a garden calendar, outlining what’s happening in your garden each month. It can be a simple list of when plants are in flower, or a more detailed planner that includes pruning times and other key jobs. It’s useful for spotting gaps, so you can plan what to add to make your garden sing. Garden to visit now Holehird Gardens…

MEASUREMENTS To fit an average man’s foot: Length of foot from toe to back of heel 28.5cm/11¼in. Ankle/leg circumference 23.5cm/9¼in. Length from top of sock to base of heel 29cm/11½in. MATERIALS For the set: 4 x 50g (200m) balls of Sirdar Country Classic 4 Ply (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic) in each of Lime Green (Chartreuse 966) and Navy (952) and 3 balls in Red (True Red 971)*; pair of 2.75mm (No. 12) knitting needles; stitch holder. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 34 stitches and 38 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 2.75mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS St(s), stitch(es); k, knit; p, purl; ss, stocking st (k on the right side and p on the wrong side); k2tog, k 2 sts together (to decrease 1 st); wrap…

The Captive by Deborah O’Connor (£12.99, PB, Bonnier Zaffre) With an arresting beginning, this dystopian tale draws the reader in immediately but the premise – that victims must house the perpetrators of crimes against them – is unwieldy. Nevertheless the story rattles along at a cracking pace as Hannah contends with Jem, the man convicted of murdering her cop husband, living in a cage in her kitchen. Hannah uncovers lies that leave her questioning who to trust. I Give it a Year by Helen Whitaker (£8.99, PB, Orion) It’s the dawn of a new year, and hopefully new beginnings. But this new beginning might not be what Iris had in mind when she finds out on New Year’s Eve that her husband, Adam, has been cheating on her. She kicks…

ABBEY ROBIN, 35 Tell us about your look My style is comfy and casual, but I like to make it my own with colour or accessories. My jacket is ‘Primani’! My scarf is from a charity shop, and my beret and jeans are H&M – my favourite store. And I love my old Timberland boots. And the best bit of your body? My smile. ALEXANDRA ANDREWS, 44 Tell us about your look My faux suede coat was a great buy from Tu at Sainsbury’s – I love the colour and touch of luxe. My blouse is Fat Face over a vest top by M&S. My jeans are Gap, boots LK Bennett and bag from John Lewis. I’ve layered up with scarves – the ruffled one was a market find and…

Sleep with retinol Seen by experts as the gold standard in skincare, retinol, aka vitamin A, works by stimulating your skin to produce new cells, leaving your complexion plumper, fresher and smoother. Try No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate, £34.99, boots.com, which, although used at night, helps ‘wake-up’ your skin, boosting cell turnover and collagen production. You’ll see results after about 12 weeks of use. Start by applying it twice a week at bedtime, and build up as your skin gets used to it. Calm with vitamin B Panthenol (vitamin B5) is used in skincare as a soothing ingredient, and can also help support your skin’s protective barrier, especially when the weather is cold. If your skin is parched or irritated, La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £38,…

GET MOVING ‘Regular gentle exercise (eg walking) keeps joints and the supporting muscles strong and supple,’ says consultant rheumatologist Dr Rod Hughes. EAT SMART Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg, wholegrains, nuts and oily fish. ‘They can help reduce inflammation, and fish oils can help prevent arthritic conditions,’ says Dr Hughes. HELP YOURSELF Consider a supplement such as GOPO® Joint Health (Boots, £19 for 120). Maintain a healthy weight too. ‘Increased weight puts stress on your joints,’ says Dr Hughes.…

✢ Blood tests can be done to check for anaemia, thyroid problems, kidney disease and cardiac enzymes to exclude heart disease. All of these can cause palpitations. ✢ Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a painless test, using electrodes on the skin to monitor how electricity passing through the heart may make it beat rapidly or irregularly. ✢ Echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart showing how the muscle and valves are moving, and how efficient the heart is at pumping blood. ✢ Angiogram is more invasive, putting dye through the bloodstream to the heart, seeing by X-ray the blood flow to the heart muscle itself.…

A Current guidelines for many antihypertensive medicines don’t specify what time of day to take them. However, a new study of 20,000 patients has shown that taking antihypertensive medicine at bedtime improves blood pressure control and nearly halves cardiovascular deaths when compared with morning dosing. The patients were randomised into two groups, either taking their daily dose at bedtime or after waking in the morning, and were followed up for six years. Those taking evening doses were found to have significantly fewer heart attacks, strokes or heart failure. This study suggests good evidence for taking simple blood pressure tablets at bedtime, but doesn’t apply to medicines that need to be taken more than once a day or for blood pressure medicines that are prescribed for other problems. It’s worth discussing…

SCRUBBING PASTE YOU WILL NEED: ✣ 50g sodium bicarbonate ✣ 20ml boiled water, cooled ✣ Orange essential oil ✣ Orange zest ✣ Glass jar ✣ Small bowl 1 Put the sodium bicarbonate into a small bowl and add the cooled boiled water. Mix together. 2 Add 10 drops of orange essential oil and the orange zest, then stir. 3 Store in an airtight glass jar, ready to scoop onto a cloth or brush, and buff away dirt and grime around your home. ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER Makes two 500ml bottles YOU WILL NEED: ✣ Orange peel ✣ Rosemary sprigs ✣ 500ml white vinegar ✣ 500ml boiled water, cooled ✣ Orange essential oil ✣ Large jar ✣ Reusable spray bottles 1 Fill the jar with orange peel and sprigs of rosemary, and top…

I can explain everything,’ said Mr Dear hastily. There are two ways in which a husband of long-standing can say these words. The first is with a long sigh as – yet again – he goes over the rudiments of the offside rule, the finer points of leg before wicket, or the reasons why a man of style and refinement never does up the bottom button of his waistcoat. For this one moment, he is master of his subject. He’s the kindly head teacher, taking trouble with a favourite pupil. He has the situation in hand. The second way is very different. In this case, brows might be mopped. There could be fear in his eyes, and the words ‘I can explain everything’ are said in a trembling voice. No…